Reggie Theus will be named the head coach of the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, filling a vacancy that may not have had as much drama as Orlando's situation, but certainly had enough bizarre twists.
You're sure you want this, right, Reggie? We know what happened the last time a college coach decided to take this drastic step.
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| If Reggie Theus can elevate 'Hang Time,' he can do anything. (Getty Images) |
He was actually in Sacramento when he agreed to the Magic job, sending over a signed contract from a Kinko's late in the evening.
If that's not strange enough, Larry Brown expressed interest in the position earlier in the week, then disappeared out of sight. Lakers assistants Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis had good interviews and were at one point considered front-runners, but all the drama finally ended Tuesday when Theus and the Maloof Bros. agreed on a deal that is being rumored as $6 million over three years.
In other words, he's getting trial money as far NBA coaches are concerned, a deal similar to the one the Kings still owe Eric Musselman on over the next two years. Musselman couldn't overcome a tumultuous climate in which players hated each other and health issues were a factor. It didn't help that the team couldn't rebound or defend, and that he had nights where he looked overmatched.
Theus doesn't know what he's getting yet, because decisions on Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, two of those who failed to get along, must still be made. However, it does bode well that he's been a winner at every stage of his life after his retirement, shining on television as an analyst, doing the most he could with roles on Like Mike and the morbidly entertaining TV series Hang Time and coaching college basketball.
Rick Pitino gave Theus his first break in the college game, hiring him to his staff at Louisville, where he proved his new endeavor wasn't just a gimmick between acting roles. New Mexico State gave him an opportunity to revive its program and he excelled, culminating with last season's WAC Tournament championship and NCAA appearance.
Of course, the college game is much different than the pro game, as many coaches have found out, most famously Billy Donovan. If he hadn't, Van Gundy would undoubtedly be coaching the Kings today.
Instead, they get Theus, a former player filled with personality and enthusiasm. His hiring probably generates a bigger splash than any other one Sacramento could've made at this point, but the challenges ahead are great. If there's anyone that can smile in the face of a climate that has turned sour over a declining team and controversy over funding for a new arena, it's probably Theus. After all, if anybody could rescue Hang Time ...
Theus is the third coach without NBA head coaching experience hired this offseason, joining Charlotte's Sam Vincent and Memphis' Marc Iavaroni. He'll probably be the last, too. Seattle, the only franchise without a coach prior to the June 28 NBA Draft, is expected to decide between top candidates P.J. Carlesimo, Rick Carlisle and Dwane Casey by this time next week. All have held previous head coaching positions.
Sacramento will select 10th in next week's draft and should get a solid contributor out of it, someone Theus can plug in immediately, likely from a pack that includes Florida State's Al Thornton, Washington's Spencer Hawes, Georgetown's Jeff Green and Kansas' Julian Wright.
That is, of course, provided Theus is still in place by the weekend. He does know there's a possibility he's coaching Artest, right? Just checking.
